Robert A. Cinader(1924-1982)
- Writer
- Producer
- Script and Continuity Department
Robert A. Cinader, also fondly known as RAC, was born on November 10,
1924. He was raised in New York City, where he attended prestigious
Townsend Harris, an experimental prep school open only to those public
school students with extremely high IQs. He enrolled at New York
University for a semester before being drafted into the army during
World War II, where he served as a logistics expert. He always said
that the war changed his view of life: he was aware of the planned
invasion of Japan and was certain he would die on the Japanese beaches
before his 21st birthday. When Japan surrendered before America
invaded, Bob felt the rest of his life was a gift. After his army hitch
he returned to NYU and entered a pre-law/liberal arts curriculum,
majoring in English literature. Attending school the year round, he
completed a four-year course in two years. He took the entrance exams
for law school and passed in the top 2% of his class. On his first day
at NYU Law School he turned around and marched from the room, certain
this was not for him. He turned to the creative field instead.
Encouraged by a college professor to try his hand at writing, Bob did
some freelance work, then took a position in the research division of
Holiday Magazine. Shortly thereafter he departed Holiday for the
publications division of the United Nations, where he quickly advanced
to department head. During this time he met his wife, actress Jean
Aubuchon. When Bob left the UN he had his first exposure to the world
of television and broadcasting, joining Ross Reports, an informational
service to the broadcasting industry, as an editor. A year later he
joined the William Morris Agency in New York in the area of television
packaging. Ultimately he handled all of the company's foreign
operations and syndication sales, accomplishing a phenomenal feat--he
sold $5,000,000 worth of product in one month, the equivalent today of
approximately $30,000,000.00
In 1956 he joined California National Productions (CNP), a subsidiary
of the National Broadcasting Company, in New York. One of his projects
was distribution of Badge 714, the syndicated title for the original
Dragnet (1951) series. Appointed to
the post of Vice-President of Programming at CNP, Bob took his family
and moved to California, where he created
The Silent Service (1957)--a
submarine series hat initiated outstanding new close-up techniques. The
show was a tremendous financial success. Following this he created two
new series,
Union Pacific (1958) and
Boots and Saddles (1956),
with Gardner McKay. After his tenure at
CNP, Bob went to work for the Hal Roach Studios, putting together
television packages.
In 1962 he was appointed Vice-President and General Manager of the "Red
Skelton Studios", and remained there until that studio was sold to CBS,
when he moved to Warner Bros. as a story consultant. Bob joined Mark
VII Ltd. at Universal as producer of
Dragnet 1967 (1967). He became
deeply involved with the Los Angeles Police Department, working on
story ideas in connection with the show. While working on "Dragnet",
Bob conceived a show about two uniformed police officers, something
that hadn't been done before, and
Adam-12 (1968) was born. It was the
first vignette show on television, a form that became very popular with
most police shows over the last 30 years. In 1972 he was the creator
and executive producer of
Emergency! (1972). The way this
came about was that Universal Studios asked Bob to come up with an
international rescue show, but he discovered something better,
something closer to home--a pilot "paramedic" program, originated in
Northern Ireland and mandated by the California State Legislature for a
probationary period in L.A. County. Bob created a show around the
program, his theory being that you could educate people without
hammering them over the head by preaching to them. What he created was
a phenomenon that helped create paramedic programs all over the
country. The show was an immediate success, and continued to be watched
by large audiences until the day it left the air in 1978. From the
first half-season in 1971 to the last season of six two-hour specials
in 1978, Bob's genius guided the writers, actors and production crew.
The show itself brought attention and acclaim to the Los Angeles County
Fire Department. More importantly, though, it showed the general
audience and public officials across the country that lives could be
saved by local paramedic programs. Emergency Medical Services
organizations from all over the country have acknowledged and honored
Bob for making significant contributions to improving emergency medical
services across the country.
During his leadership, Bob became intimately involved in the Los
Angeles County paramedic program. His involvement and commitment was so
intense and his study of emergency services so thorough that he became
an expert in the field. He eventually used his expertise to formally
advise county government when he was appointed to the County Emergency
Medical Services Commission. In recognition of his extraordinary public
service, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously
to pay special tribute to Bob by naming Fire Station 127 in Carson, the
home station of "Emergency!", as the Robert A. Cinader Memorial Fire
Station. Several years later the County Fire Station situated on the
Universal Studios Lot was christened Station 51. "Emergency!" produced
a group of about 100 people who evolved into a family. Those who worked
with Bob Cinader will never forget the privilege.
Robert A. Cinader died on November 16, 1982, after a battle with
cancer. He left his wife of 31 years, Jean, and hundreds more friends
who loved, respected and admired him.
1924. He was raised in New York City, where he attended prestigious
Townsend Harris, an experimental prep school open only to those public
school students with extremely high IQs. He enrolled at New York
University for a semester before being drafted into the army during
World War II, where he served as a logistics expert. He always said
that the war changed his view of life: he was aware of the planned
invasion of Japan and was certain he would die on the Japanese beaches
before his 21st birthday. When Japan surrendered before America
invaded, Bob felt the rest of his life was a gift. After his army hitch
he returned to NYU and entered a pre-law/liberal arts curriculum,
majoring in English literature. Attending school the year round, he
completed a four-year course in two years. He took the entrance exams
for law school and passed in the top 2% of his class. On his first day
at NYU Law School he turned around and marched from the room, certain
this was not for him. He turned to the creative field instead.
Encouraged by a college professor to try his hand at writing, Bob did
some freelance work, then took a position in the research division of
Holiday Magazine. Shortly thereafter he departed Holiday for the
publications division of the United Nations, where he quickly advanced
to department head. During this time he met his wife, actress Jean
Aubuchon. When Bob left the UN he had his first exposure to the world
of television and broadcasting, joining Ross Reports, an informational
service to the broadcasting industry, as an editor. A year later he
joined the William Morris Agency in New York in the area of television
packaging. Ultimately he handled all of the company's foreign
operations and syndication sales, accomplishing a phenomenal feat--he
sold $5,000,000 worth of product in one month, the equivalent today of
approximately $30,000,000.00
In 1956 he joined California National Productions (CNP), a subsidiary
of the National Broadcasting Company, in New York. One of his projects
was distribution of Badge 714, the syndicated title for the original
Dragnet (1951) series. Appointed to
the post of Vice-President of Programming at CNP, Bob took his family
and moved to California, where he created
The Silent Service (1957)--a
submarine series hat initiated outstanding new close-up techniques. The
show was a tremendous financial success. Following this he created two
new series,
Union Pacific (1958) and
Boots and Saddles (1956),
with Gardner McKay. After his tenure at
CNP, Bob went to work for the Hal Roach Studios, putting together
television packages.
In 1962 he was appointed Vice-President and General Manager of the "Red
Skelton Studios", and remained there until that studio was sold to CBS,
when he moved to Warner Bros. as a story consultant. Bob joined Mark
VII Ltd. at Universal as producer of
Dragnet 1967 (1967). He became
deeply involved with the Los Angeles Police Department, working on
story ideas in connection with the show. While working on "Dragnet",
Bob conceived a show about two uniformed police officers, something
that hadn't been done before, and
Adam-12 (1968) was born. It was the
first vignette show on television, a form that became very popular with
most police shows over the last 30 years. In 1972 he was the creator
and executive producer of
Emergency! (1972). The way this
came about was that Universal Studios asked Bob to come up with an
international rescue show, but he discovered something better,
something closer to home--a pilot "paramedic" program, originated in
Northern Ireland and mandated by the California State Legislature for a
probationary period in L.A. County. Bob created a show around the
program, his theory being that you could educate people without
hammering them over the head by preaching to them. What he created was
a phenomenon that helped create paramedic programs all over the
country. The show was an immediate success, and continued to be watched
by large audiences until the day it left the air in 1978. From the
first half-season in 1971 to the last season of six two-hour specials
in 1978, Bob's genius guided the writers, actors and production crew.
The show itself brought attention and acclaim to the Los Angeles County
Fire Department. More importantly, though, it showed the general
audience and public officials across the country that lives could be
saved by local paramedic programs. Emergency Medical Services
organizations from all over the country have acknowledged and honored
Bob for making significant contributions to improving emergency medical
services across the country.
During his leadership, Bob became intimately involved in the Los
Angeles County paramedic program. His involvement and commitment was so
intense and his study of emergency services so thorough that he became
an expert in the field. He eventually used his expertise to formally
advise county government when he was appointed to the County Emergency
Medical Services Commission. In recognition of his extraordinary public
service, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously
to pay special tribute to Bob by naming Fire Station 127 in Carson, the
home station of "Emergency!", as the Robert A. Cinader Memorial Fire
Station. Several years later the County Fire Station situated on the
Universal Studios Lot was christened Station 51. "Emergency!" produced
a group of about 100 people who evolved into a family. Those who worked
with Bob Cinader will never forget the privilege.
Robert A. Cinader died on November 16, 1982, after a battle with
cancer. He left his wife of 31 years, Jean, and hundreds more friends
who loved, respected and admired him.